Improved combined piano, couch, and bureau



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES HESS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,413, dated July 17, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

VBe it known that I, CHARLES HEss, of Cin cinnati, Hamilton county, and State of Chio, have invented a certain new and useful Convertible Piano, Couch, and Bureau, and I do hereby declare the following1 to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this speciication.

My invention relates to the addition of a couch, bureau, Src., to an ordinary piano, these articles being made to ll up the unoccupied space underneath the piano, and being arranged in such a manner as not to detract from the appearance of the instrument or to interfere with its musical qualities.

The convertible piano has been designed principally for the benefit of hotels, boarding schools, 85o., containing apartments which are used for parlors, Src., in day-time and yet required for sleeping-rooms at night.

The annexed drawing is a perspective view of a convertible piano embodying' my improvements, they being represented in their opened condition ready for use.

A represents the body or case of a piano forte, which, instead of resting upon the customary legs, is supported by a frame, B, which is supported by a base, D.

rlhe frame B is so arranged as to contain a bureau, E, and two closets, F and Gr, of which the closet Fis designed to hold the bed-clothes, while the closet Cr may contain a wash-bowl, pitcher, towels, Sto.

The closet F is provided with two doors, f f', by which access is had to said closet, and the other end of the case B is furnished with two false doors, b b', in order that the front of the instrument may present a symmetrical appearance, and these false doors also serve to form one side ot' a ease, which contains the drawers e, &c., of the bureau E.

The base D is provided with a movable trundle-bed, H, whose front is supported on rollers or casters h 7i', which run on the door of the apartment, and the rear of the bed is furnished with concealed rollers, which bear upon the bottom of the base D. This provision of rollers to ,the bed H enables it to be easily shoved into or withdrawn from the base.

Hinged to the bed H is a head-board, I, and foot-board J, towhich are attached frames i and j, for the support of a mosquito-bar or bed-curtain.

The head -board l, footboard J, and their accompanying frames i and j are folded down on top of the mattress whenever it is desired to shove the bed into the base D. l

L L are handles attached to the front of the bed H, and C is a recess for the reception of the perfornlers feet.

The frame B may be permanently secured to the base D, and the piano A may be attached to the frame in any convenient inanner, or each of the three members A, B, and D may be separate and distinct, in order that they may be taken apart for the purpose of transportation and to facilitate the removal of the instrument from one room to another.

It has been found by actual use that this addition to a piano-forte does not in the least impair its qualities as a musical instrument, but, on the contrary, adds considerably to its reverberatory power; butinasmuch as experiments are being made for the elaboration and perfection of said reverberatory feature, the right is reserved of making the same the subject of a distinct application for patent.

My piano-stool, which is also reserved for a distinct patent, is composed oi' a rectangular frame consisting of an upper part, N, and a lower one, C, the latter being provided with drawers o o', while the upper portion has a lid, l?, which, when opened and secured at any desired inclination, serves as a writing desk or table, the paper, pens, ink, dto., being contained in this upper part, N, and are completely hidden from sight when the lid is closed.

The cushioned seat S is hinged to a cylindrical body, T, to which is secured the customary screw t, by which the seat is elevated or lowered to suit the convenience of the performer. A

To the under side of the seat S a looking'- glass, U, is attached, and the body T is so constructed as to serve for a ladys work-box, being' provided with a cushion, V, for holding pins, needles, Src.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- A combination of piano, couch, and bureau, arranged and operating substantially as represented and set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES HESS. Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMEs H. LAYMAN.- 

